February 1st 1998 I was introduced to Cedar Creek Church as the new student pastor.  It’s pretty wild to believe I’ve been at CCC for that long.  Kim was pregnant with Hannah, and it just seems like so long ago.  I’ve been blessed to be able to be on staff with the some great pastors, leaders and friends.  When I first came on staff, the only other paid staff was Richard, Kay and Travis Holmes.  We were meeting at New Generations DayCare, and we were averaging around 450.  Our offices were downtown Aiken in the old post office building.  Those were good times.  Now, we’re averaging somewhere around 2,600 to 3,000 a weekend, have a lot more staff and have two, soon to be three, campuses.  I just wanted to say a word of incredible appreciation to Richard who gave me a chance to join the staff back then and for the example he has given me of what it means to lead, be a pastor, a man who loves Jesus, and wants to desperately see others meet Jesus.